Bringing light and hope into these times of darkness - a message from the vicar of Chesterfield's Crooked Spire church

It’s also worth remembering that in a couple of weeks the holy month of Ramadan begins, so our Islamic friends will also have to live out the experience of fasting and praying apart in their own homes.

There are also many people of all faiths and none who are angry at the current pandemic, especially those who have lost close friends and family. Some find it convenient to blame God, or to assert that such awful things could not happen if God exists.

Let’s be clear: if God is a fairy godmother, a magician or a puppet-master, then that God deserves the full force of our anger. The God of Jesus Christ is none of these things. This God suffers with us; this God gives us strength to take on the hard things of human life together with the many joys, and to make this life and this world better for all.

At present, for most of us, the best we can do for the sake of everyone is to stay at home and wait it out.

Some are carrying out active service keeping things going – especially the caring and healing professions, food provision – all the basic things we need to live. And many can do no more than encourage, avoid running the risk of catching or spreading infection, and pray.

I said at the start that church buildings are closed – but the church is emphatically not closed. Chesterfield Parish Church is among the very many who carry on worship each day in our homes, making it available for others to join in by filming or streaming. We are among the very many whose congregation members are involved in practically supporting and serving others. We have been, and are, still here to support the frontline health and other workers who give us all hope in these difficult times. We do what we can to shine the light of faith into the many dark places.

Most of us have grown up in generations where we assumed that humankind can in principle have control over its own destiny. The current crisis is a rude reminder of what an illusion that is, and a loud wake-up call to take questions of environment, health and justice seriously.

I know that many people will be hoping or praying that everything will at some time – preferably in the near future – get back to ‘normal’. Going through the events of Holy Week, being part of the suffering and death of Jesus – this does not take us back to the normal things of life, but into the extra-ordinary reality where suffering and death do not bring darkness and despair, but light and hope that there will be new life.

That’s what this week is about; that’s what this crisis must also be about – finding our way to a new reality where there will be life and hope for all creation.

Happy Easter – and please keep safe and keep well.

Revd Patrick Coleman, Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield